Asian Open

Gold took full advantage of lower yields on Friday to accelerate into its record high, leaving the question as to whether it can break above this key milestone or present us with a desirable pullback first. The ASX 200 is also considering a break above its 200-day MA.

The US PCE inflation report is arguably the event of the week, and with traders having vigorously sold the US dollar ahead of it I am left wondering if it is a case of ‘sell the rumour, buy the fact’ – especially if it comes on hot. And with AUD/USD and gold stalling around key levels on Wednesday, the potential for mean reversion seems apparent.

Whilst the RBNZ were expected to hold, their statement struck a hawkish tone by stating that “inflation remains too high”. And with traders front-loading a weak CPI print for the US later this week it has catapulted the New Zealand dollar higher.

With USD/CNH and USD/JPY probing key support levels, we may require a break of them for AUD/USD to stand a chance of continuing its strong rally (which met strong resistance on Tuesday). Unless of course Australia is treated to an uncomfortably hot inflation report today, which could fan fears of another RBA hike.

Two milestones were set on Monday for two key Australian markets, which saw AUD/USD close above its 200-day average for the first time in four months and the ASX 200 close below 7,000.

A sharp reversal on USD/JPY last week brings a potential break above 150 in to focus, assuming the US dollar can find a bid and USD/CNH continues to hold above its 200-day MA. Meanwhile, crude oil has handed back all of its 2023 gains and it is a very fine line before the bias for a move to $80 becomes invalidated.

The US dollar held a key support level on Thursday, which could provide the platform for a bounce today if all goes well. Crude oil continues to hint at its own potential bounce, whilst the ASX 200 appears to have formed a swing high on the daily chart.

Gold has formed a double top around $2000 which leaves the potential for a pullback before its next leg higher. And crude oil shows the potential for a bounce towards $80 or $82 ahead of next week's OPEC meeting.

The S&P 500 continues to defy gravity and appears on the cup of breaking above a key resistance level. And whilst AUD/USD fell for five days last week, it is fast approaching a key support level that has been favourable to dip buyers in recent times.

If the BOJ were going to intervene, it could be argued they'd have done it already. But that doesn't mean the market can't do some of the work for them by sending USD/JPY lower from key resistance levels. And if the US dollar pulls back as I suspect, it places USD/JPY short onto the watchlist.

WTI fell over 4% to a 4-month low on Tuesday after slicing through $80. AUD/USD was also the weakest FX major after the RBA's statement lacked the level of hawkishness traders were seemingly positioned for.

With an overwhelming majority now backing a 25bp RBA hike today, the RBA may need to deliver a hawkish hike for AUD/USD to stand any chance of a sustainable break above resistance and send the ASX 200 materially lower.

AUD/USD finally saw the break above 64c that we have been anticipating, on renewed bets of an RBA hike alongside a weaker nonfarm payrolls report.

AUD/USD produced a clear and decisive break and, unless we see an abnormally strong nonfarm payroll later today, I suspect the Aussie could be headed for 65c. WTI crude oil is also trying to turn higher just above $80 which places a potential bounce on the cards.

AUD/USD has continued to defy bears with a sustainable break below 63c. And with momentum now turning higher and a bullish engulfing candle closing on a key resistance level, I'm on high alert for a bullish breakout. The ASX 200 also shows some appetite for further gains, as long as it can also break a key resistance level nearby.

1-day implied volatility has blown out on USD/JPY ahead of today’s BOJ meeting, with its 100-pip implied move coming in at 292% of its 20-day average and the 5-day implied volatility sitting at 179 pips.